U.S. patent application number 09/756831 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-11 for wide screen notebook input/output device interface.
This patent application is currently assigned to International Business Machines Corporation. Invention is credited to Karidis, John Peter.
Application Number | 20020091877 09/756831 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25045241 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020091877 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Karidis, John Peter |
July 11, 2002 |
Wide screen notebook input/output device interface
Abstract
A notebook computer with an extended keyboard base and widened
display. The extended keyboard base region adjacent to the keyboard
has a recessed area which contains a universal I/O connector. The
recessed area is designed to fit a set of I/O devices which are
designed to electrically connect to the universal I/O connector.
When a I/O device is plugged into the universal I/O connector, it
may be automatically sensed by circuitry internal to the notebook
computer and software drivers are loaded that enables the
particular I/O device to be used. The widened display gives added
display capability wherein multiple pages of a document may be
placed side by side for editing or viewing. I/O devices include,
but are not limited to, a numeric keypad, a trackpad/digitizer, a
track pad with integrated display, a WorkPad, a digital camera pad,
a MP3Pad, a Fingerprint sensor, Control Pad, a PhonePad, a Cellular
Pad, and a SmartCard reader/recorder.
Inventors: |
Karidis, John Peter;
(Ossining, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John Bruce Schelkopf
IBM Corporation
Legal Dept.
Dept. 9CCA/Bldg.002-2
Research Triangle Park
NC
27709
US
|
Assignee: |
International Business Machines
Corporation
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
25045241 |
Appl. No.: |
09/756831 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/1616 20130101;
G06F 1/1656 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/1 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A notebook computer with an input/output (I/O) physical user
interface comprising: a base containing a keyboard for said
notebook computer, wherein said base has an extended portion beyond
said keyboard creating a widened keyboard base; a widened display,
said widened display having a widened I/O display area
corresponding to said widened keyboard base, said widened display
having a width substantially equal to a width of said widened
keyboard base; an I/O device area disposed within said extended
portion of said widened keyboard base; and an interface signal
connection means mounted within said I/O device area, said
interface signal connection means operable to couple signals from
said notebook computer to an I/O device.
2. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein said I/O device area
is recessed below a surface of said I/O device area, said recessed
I/O device area operable to receive said I/O device.
3. The notebook computer of claim 2, wherein said interface signal
connection means is disposed within said recessed I/O device
area.
4. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein an interface
connection interposer is disposed between said interface signal
connection means and said I/O device.
5. The notebook computer of claim 4, wherein said interface
connection interposer is disposed within said recessed I/O device
area.
6. The notebook computer of claim 4, wherein said interface
connection interposer is operable to compensate for both mechanical
and signal routing differences between said universal connection
means, said recessed I/O area and said I/O device.
7. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein said widened I/O
display area is used to display operational data relative to
operation of said I/O device when said I/O device is sending or
receiving signals to said notebook computer.
8. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein said notebook computer
is operable to execute first communication software instructions,
said first communication software instructions controlling
communication between said notebook computer and said I/O
device.
9. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein said I/O device is
operable to execute second communication software instructions,
said second communication software instructions controlling
communication between said notebook computer and said I/O
device.
10. The notebook computer of claim 1, wherein said I/O device has
functionality wholly separate from any communication signaling or
connection with said notebook computer.
11. A method of interfacing a I/O device to a notebook computer,
comprising the steps of: providing said notebook computer with a
widened display and a widened keyboard base, said widened keyboard
base having an I/O device area; providing a signal connection means
within said I/O device area; coupling signals from said I/O device
to I/O circuitry in said notebook computer, said I/O circuitry
operable to couple signals from said I/O device to a central
processing unit (CPU) in said notebook computer; activating
communication software, said communication software operable to
control communication between said CPU and said I/O device; and
activating display software, said display software operable to
execute instructions directing the display of input or output data
relevant to said I/O device in a widened portion of said widened
display.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of
operating said notebook computer and said I/O device together in
response to user commands entered via said notebook computer or via
said I/O device.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein said widened display has a
width substantially equal to a width of said widened keyboard
base.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein said I/O device has
functionality wholly separate from any communication signaling or
connection with said notebook computer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates in general to notebook size
computers and in particular to the physical and signal interface of
removable input/output (I/O) devices to a notebook computer.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
[0002] Notebook computers have wide usage and are usually selected
for their small size. Sometimes an application for a notebook
computer does not require the smallest size but rather requires
portability and the ability to add options when needed. Notebook
computers typically require cabling to add some optional devices
(e.g., printers and larger displays) which plug into ports that
have the appropriate connector for the particular option. Other
optional devices may be self contained (e.g. auxiliary storage
units) and plug into a compatible connector and reside inside the
notebook computer. One of the limitations of notebook computers is
their small display screen size and small keyboard size. To remedy
this problem some notebook computers have been made with means to
expand the keyboard from a smaller stored form factor and many
notebook computers have external display ports for optionally using
an external display either concurrent with or instead of the
attached display.
[0003] Traditionally, the keyboard area of a notebook has been
reserved for devices that have an input only function, such as a
keypad, track ball or other type of pointing device. There have
also been notebook computers with printer ports and ports for
connecting to a larger display, however, these devices are usually
not portable and the I/O connections are generally in the back of
the keyboard base. Recently digital devices have been introduced
that have functionality when not connected to computer (e.g.,
digital cameras). However, these devices may have information that
may be loaded into a computer for further processing or storage and
may also receive output data from a computer. While these devices
may have a standardized electrical interfaces (e.g., USB serial
bus) their physical and electrical interface are not necessarily
designed to make these I/O devices conveniently operate as part of
the notebook computer.
[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a notebook computer with I/O
device connectivity in combination with a widened display screen
where the traditional features of the notebook are enhanced with
the ability to connect new and existing I/O devices with a new
display form factor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A notebook computer is disclosed with a keyboard base
containing a keyboard and an attached display. The keyboard base is
widened to create a widened I/O area. The display is also widened
corresponding to the widened keyboard base. In one embodiment, a
recessed area is provided within the widened I/O area which has an
I/O connector adapted for a number of removable I/O devices. Each
of the I/O devices is operable to electrically connect to the I/O
connector. While the I/O devices may vary in functionality, they
are all adapted to physically and electrically connect to the I/O
connector. I/O devices may also have software drivers, necessary to
interface to the notebook computer, either resident in the I/O
device or in the notebook computer. Connection of an I/O device may
automatically cause the I/O device drivers to be loaded into the
notebook computer from the I/O device or the device drivers may be
stored and activated from within the notebook computer itself. The
widened display may use the extended display space to either
display multiple windows for normal notebook operation or to
display a window associated only with the operation of a particular
I/O device installed in the recessed area in the widened keyboard
base and connected to the I/O connector. Selected I/O devices may
have functionality wholly separate from any communication or
connection with the notebook computer.
[0006] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present invention in order that the
detailed description of the invention that follows may be better
understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention
will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened
display screen and how an I/O device may connect to an I/O
connector in a widened keyboard base;
[0009] FIG. 2 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened
display screen and an I/O device installed in the widened I/O area
where the widened screen is used to display multiple windows side
by side for a notebook computer application program;
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates a notebook computer with a widened
display screen and an I/O device installed in the widened I/O area
where an I/O device window is show displayed in a widened portion
of the notebook computer display;
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates logic units and embodiments of the
present invention useable in a notebook computer; and
[0012] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of method steps used in
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] In the following description, numerous specific details are
set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art
that the present invention may be practiced without such specific
details. In other instances, well-known circuits have been shown in
block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in
unnecessary detail. For the most part, details concerning timing
considerations and the like may have been omitted in as much as
such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding
of the present invention and are within the skills of persons of
ordinary skill in the relevant art.
[0014] Refer now to the drawings wherein depicted elements are not
necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are
designated by the same reference numeral through the several views.
In the following description, the term I/O device will be
synonymous with a "removable I/O device" as the invention is drawn
to I/O devices that are removable from a notebook computer.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of logic units within a
motherboard 400 of a notebook computer (not shown in FIG. 4)
useable with embodiments of the present invention. The central
processing unit (CPU), read only memory (ROM) and random access
memory (RAM) make up the majority of the processing function of the
notebook computer. Bus 412 is one communication path used to
communicate between the logic units and external devices. A user
interface adapter 422 (including a keyboard controller) is used to
couple signals from devices such as a keyboard 101, a mouse 426, a
track ball 432 and an audio speaker 428. Keyboard 101 may have a
widened keyboard base 107 with an widened I/O device area 108
according to embodiments of the present invention. A display
adapter 436 is used to couple signals to a display 102. Display 102
may also have an widened display area 103 corresponding to a
widened keyboard base 107 according to embodiments of the present
invention. Bus 412 may also be used to couple signals from I/O
adapter 418 and communication adapter 443. Adapters 418 is used,
according to embodiments of the present invention, to couple
signals from an I/O device 449 to motherboard 400 via I/O
connection means 434. In one embodiment of the present invention,
I/O device 449 has a connector 450 that is operable to mate with a
corresponding connector 448 on I/O connection means 434. In another
embodiment of the present invention, where connectors 448 and 450
are not matched, an interposer 444 is inserted between these two
connectors to enable signal connection. Interposer 444 would have a
connector features compatible with connector 450 on the I/O device
449 side and a connector feature compatible with connector 448 on
the I/O connection means 434 side. The signals wires (not shown)
within the interposer 444 would make the required corresponding
signal connections to ensure operation of I/O device 449. An
interposer 444 may also be used, in embodiments of the present
invention, when the physical form of the connector on an I/O device
449 or a physical feature of the I/O device 449 itself does not
allow connection of the I/O device 449 directly to the motherboard
400 via connector 448. Other communication signals from other
devices (not shown) may be coupled to bus 412 via communication
adapter 443.
[0016] Once CPU 410 recognizes a device by its identifying signals
it may also have programs with instructions to retrieve, from RAM
414, ROM 416, or from the I/O device 449 itself, data specific to
the operation of the identified I/O device 449. This data may
include device driver instructions or other pertinent operational
information. CPU 410 may also activate software routines that have
instructions used to communicate with display adapter 436 to
present, on an I/O device display window 111, data specific to the
operation of a specific connected I/O device 449. This I/O device
display window 111 may be wholly separate and not overlay any other
operation windows (e.g., 109) on a display 102. An I/O device 449
with specific I/O device display window 111 may be used to
indicate, to a user, operation status of I/O device 449. For
example, I/O device display window 111 may indicate; whether a
communication link has been established, any additional
instructions to the user concerning actions to be taken, or it may
be used to display I/O data in various forms. The I/O device
display may also contain data which has been received from or is to
be transmitted to I/O device 449.
[0017] I/O device display window 111 may be used without
interrupting other notebook computer display window information.
Other embodiments of the present invention allow an widened display
102 (with a widened area 103) to be used by the CPU 410 to display
windows (e.g., 109 and 110 in FIG. 2) of a notebook computer
application program if no I/O device 449 is present an using the
widened display area 103. An I/O device 449 may be self contained
and be wholly operable as a stand alone device when not
communicating with notebook computer devices via a motherboard 400.
The I/O connection means 434 allows newly developed devices to be
easily adapted to an existing notebook computer containing
embodiments of the present invention.
[0018] An I/O device 449 may be supplied with an interposer 444 to
allow required signals to be coupled via an I/O adapter 418 and bus
412 to a CPU 410. Even though the new I/O device 449 was previously
unknown, it may still be adaptable to load, into CPU 410, software
that would fully enable synergistic operation of the I/O device 449
and a notebook computer with CPU 410. The downloaded software may
have instructions operable for later identification of the I/O
device 449 with display functions for the widened display area 103
(see FIG. 3).
[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a notebook computer comprising
embodiments of the present invention. Notebook computer 100 has a
keyboard 101 and display screen 102. Embodiments of the present
invention widen the base 107 creating an widened area 108. Widened
area 108 has a recessed I/O area 105 which contains I/O connection
means 104. Recessed I/O area 105 is operable to accept one of a
group of universal I/O devices 106. I/O devices 106 may be sized to
fit into the I/O area 105 (or adapted possibly using an interposer)
to mate with I/O connection means 104. Notebook computer 100 also
has, as the result of extension of the base 107, an widened I/O
display area 103. I/O display area 103 makes the display 102 more
useable either by enabling a single very wide window, two or more
smaller windows side-by side, or optionally an inserted window
supporting an added I/O device installed or connected in recessed
I/O area 105. I/O connection means 104 may contain sensing means to
indicate to the central processing unit (CPU) of the notebook
computer 100 the identity of an added I/O device 106, if necessary.
The CPU (not shown, e.g., 410) may reside on a mother board (e.g.,
400) which also contains necessary electronic circuits for the
notebook computer 100. The CPU is operable to automatically load
drivers and software necessary to support an added I/O device 106.
The sensing means in the I/O connection means 104, in one
embodiment of the present invention, may be a selected number of
connector pins that receive encoded logic signals from the added
I/O device and couple these signals to the CPU. In another
embodiment of the present invention, an added I/O device 106 sends
a serial set of bits defining its identity on a specific connector
pin of the I/O connection means 104. Other sensing means, for
determining an I/O device identity, may include applying a logic
signal to a selected single pin which is coupled to the CPU which
the CPU has been programmed to associate with a particular I/O
device 106.
[0020] Many different I/O devices are possible using embodiments of
the present invention. A list of possible I/O devices includes, but
is not limited to, a numeric keypad, a trackpad/digitizer, a track
pad with integrated display, a Work Pad or other personal digital
assistant (PDA), a digital camera pad, a MP3 Pad, a Fingerprint
sensor, Control Pad, a Phone Pad, a Cellular Pad, and a SmartCard
reader/recorder. A "pad" in this context is a term used to define
an I/O unit which has the features necessary to provide the
particular I/O function (e.g., buttons, keys, audio input/output,
display, etc.). A keypad may be a simple input device for inputting
key data where the keypad has a particular keypad layout or
specific user characters. A trackpad/digitizer may be a device that
is used over a drawing where a reference may be established and
data inputted by moving over figures and inputting coordinates of
points. Some devices like a PDA or a digital camera pad may have a
complete functionality wholly separate from communication to the
notebook computer. A Phone Pad or Cellular Pad contain the
functionality to make phone calls using either the standard
telephone protocol or wireless via a cellular connection. The
notebook may use the functionality of the Phone Pad or Cellular Pad
to make either voice or data connections. For example a user may
want to use the Cellular Pad in conjunction with the notebook
computer to make a voice connection and talk while accessing and
displaying data or operating an application program. Other devices
like the Fingerprint sensor may be used for a variety of security
protocol applications (e.g., granting access to certain local or
remote files). A Smartcard reader/recorder is a device used to read
and write specially formatted cards that may contain data storage
either magnetically, optically or by accessing embedded memory
chips within the Smartcard.
[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, plugging in an
I/O device 106 into I/O connection means 104 would trigger the
enhanced notebook computer 100 to present a display window (e.g.,
111) indicating which supported I/O device drivers are installed.
The user would then select, from the options, the particular I/O
device 106. In another embodiment of the present invention, the
notebook computer automatically loads the appropriate I/O device
driver by sensing the particular I/O device 106 connected. Yet in
another embodiment of the present invention, the I/O device 106
stores its required I/O driver in internal ROM. The I/O driver may
be automatically loaded into the notebook computer when the I/O
device 106 is coupled to I/O connection means 104. Other
embodiments of the present invention also bring up a supporting
display window (e.g., 111) in the extended display area 103 for use
with the I/O device 106. The extended display area 103 would also
be available for notebook computer application program use whether
or not an I/O device 106 is connected. This would be very useful
for displaying two pages side by side during an editing or review
process.
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention of
a notebook 100 with an installed I/O device 106. Widened keyboard
base 107 contains a keyboard 101. Display 102 has an extended
display area 103. In this illustration, two display windows 109 and
110 are shown displayed side by side where display window 110
extends into extended display area 103.
[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention
where a notebook computer 100 has a I/O device 106 installed.
Widened keyboard base 107 contains a keyboard 101. Display 102 has
a widened display area 103. In this illustration, display windows
109 and 112 are in display 101. An I/O display window 111,
associated with I/O device 106, is displayed in the widened display
area 103.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of method steps in embodiments of
the present invention. In step 501, a test is executed to determine
if a I/O device 106 is coupled to the universal connection means is
sending communication requests. If the result of the test in 501 is
NO, then a test is done in step 502 to determine if a notebook
application program has a requirement that may use the widened
display area 103. If the result of the test in step 502 is YES,
then the widened display area 103 may be used for the notebook
application program. If the result of the test in step 502 is NO,
then a branch is executed to step 501 awaiting an I/O device 106
connection or a requirement by an notebook application program that
may use of the widened display 103. If the result of the test in
step 501 is YES, then communication requests of an activated and
installed I/O device 106 are acknowledged in step 504. In step 505,
communication software within the notebook computer 100 requests
I/O device 106 identification. In step 506, the particular I/O
device driver program is either downloaded to or activated within
the notebook computer 100. In step 507, the I/O display window
program is activated in the notebook or downloaded from the I/O
device 106. In step 508, the notebook computer 100 and the I/O
device 106 are operated together under user commands entered via
the keyboard 101 of notebook computer 100 or via the I/O device
106. In step 509, a test is executed to determine if operation the
I/O device 106 active or terminated. If the result of the test in
step 509 is YES, a branch is executed back to step 508 continuing
operation. If the result of the test in step 509 is NO, then a
branch to step 501 is executed in step 510 awaiting communication
requests from an I/O device.
[0025] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *